FlyTrapCare Forums

Hey folks,

Figured I'd share this for kicks:

A while back I started a flower stalk on my VFT and it took root and is growing nicely.
On closer inspection, it has 2-3 mutations- double/split traps, and such. (Too small to get a good picture).

Anyway, today I looked at the parent plant and noticed this (attached).

Worth a discussion, I thought. Are mutations in VFTs really common? Are they environment influenced?

Also procured a nice 1x2' terrarium to which I'm going to re-pot my VFT this spring (there are at least 4-5 rosettes in the same pot, time to have the kids move out... hehe.)
From what I've read, I can:
1. Use a CCFL for light, adjusting the photoperiod as necessary.
2. Line the bottom with 1-2" of landscape bark for drainage
3. Cover with a good layer of flytrap media.
4. Add an adjustable cover to keep the humidity right.

What I've done up till now for other pots is 50/50 dead milled peat moss (plenty 'o that, we use it for horse bedding) , and washed silica sand, without perlite. (Reason for that is all I've been able to find is the "enriched" miracle-gro crap)
Is that sufficient, or should I really look at getting some for my potting mix?

I'd also like to add more CPs to my collection - a few VFTs, possibly some sundews and pitcher plants. Can they coexist well under the same conditions in a terrarium? Also, roughly how many plants can I put in that space, allowing room for them to grow without having to re-pot every year?

it looks great, i really do love venus fly traps with plenty of stems

Nice pic

Wow nice mutation. Your lucky man, there not that common. I wish had something like that.

Well! I have never seen a double trap occuring the far down the stem!
Such a nice mutation.

I have one with 3 traps on

its a bit smaller

Oooooh pictures please

Interesting that they're so uncommon... and to think that the stalk I planted from this parent also has similar mutations... *Cha-Ching*! (just kidding!)

Got two more flower stalks sitting in some planting medium right now; kept moist and lots of light.

Out of curiosity, what's the success rate for planting flower stalks? I've had 3-4 before this one that just didn't work for me. Perhaps I'm cutting them off too high?

That said, it's pretty quick to tell if they take or not- if they don't, the entire stalk turns brown and dies... if they take, only the top part dies and the rest turns a deep green... then some time later you'll see sprouts!